258 million people needed urgent food aid in 2022: UN

Some 258 million people needed emergency food aid last year because of conflict, economic shocks and climate disasters.

Some 258 million people needed emergency food aid last year because of conflict, economic shocks and climate disasters, a UN report said on Wednesday (May 3), a sharp rise from 193 million the previous year.

"More than a quarter of a billion people are now facing acute levels of hunger, and some are on the brink of starvation. That's unconscionable," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said.

It was "a stinging indictment of humanity's failure to make progress ... to end hunger, and achieve food security and improved nutrition for all," he said.

In 2022, 258 million people faced high levels of acute food insecurity in 58 countries or territories, up from 193 million in 53 countries the previous year, the report said.

More than 40 percent of those lived in the conflict-torn countries of Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Afghanistan, Nigeria and Yemen, it said.

This overall figure of people in dire need of food aid has now increased for the fourth consecutive year in a row.

The report categorised them in a situation of "crisis", "emergency" or - worst - "catastrophe".